Controller for electric-motor cars or vehicles.



No. 629,398. Patented July 25, I899. S. H. SHORT.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR CARS OR VEHICLES.

(Application filed Mar. 2, 1895.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

Sw ll 71 2 571 e Jae o.

ME News pawns co PncTo-uma, msmumom o c No. 629,398. Patentad July 25,I899.

S. H. SHORT.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR CARS OR VEHICLES.

(Appiication filed 1m. 2, 1895.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.v

(No Model.)

Patented July 25, I899.

8. H. SHORT.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR CARS OR VEHICLES.

(Application filed Mar. 2, 1895.]

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

SJ? h" 54:1 7

Patented July 25, I899. S. H. SHORT.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR CARS OR VEHICLES.

(No Model.)

(Application filed Mar. 2, 1896.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

r 71 E 11 6666 a.

,JSw 611 b):

4. SAN- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY n. siiion'r, or CLEVELAND, OHIO, nests-Non TO THE WALKER COMPANY,on NEW JERSEY.

CONTROLLER FOR ELECTRIC- MOTOR CARS OR VEHICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 629,398, dated July 25,1899-.

Application filed March 2, 1895.

To (all who/1t (It IN/]] concern..-

Be it known that I, SIDNEY ll. SHORT, of Cleveland, in the county ofCuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Controllers for Electric-Motor Cars or Vehicles; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in controllers for electric-motorcars or vehicles, and more especially to a controller wherein areemployed a series of movable contacts operatively mounted upon anupright shaft and a series of relatively stationary contacts arranged ina vertical row adapted to be electrically engaged by the movablecontacts and wherein the arrangement and length of the movable contactsare such that when the relatively stationary contacts are properlyconuected, respectively, with the trolley or contact device, motors,resistances, &c., of the motor car or vehicle the motors can, byproperly manipulating a lever operatively connected with the aforesaidshaft, be connected in series with or without resistance in the cirunitand can be changed from series to parallel relation with or without anyresistance in the circuit. Sparking or arcing between the aforesaidmovable and relativelystationary contacts upon breaking electricalconnection between engaging contacts would soon burn or waste away theengaging surfaces of said contacts, necessitating the repairing orrenewal of said contacts, and when several or quite a number of saidcontacts are employed, as in controllers of the character indicated, thearcing or sparking referred to would be a source of no inconsiderableexpense and annoyance.

The primary-object of my present invention is therefore to preventarcing or sparking be tween the movable and relatively stationarycontacts of the controllerin breaking electrical engagementbetween saidcontacts; and with this object in view and to the end of attainingcertain other ad vantages hereinafter referred to my invention consistsin certain features of construction and combinations of parts,hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective showing themechanism within a controller stand or case that I have devised for useon electric-motor cars or vehicles and showing in a diagrammatic mannerthe trolley or contact device of a railway-car, two resistances, twomotors, and such electrical connections as are required between thetrolley, resistances, motors, and relatively sta tionary contacts of thecontroller and showing means for preventing sparking or arcing betweenthe movable and relatively stationary contacts of the controller. Fig. 2is a diagrammatic view illustrating the difierent motor combinationsadapted to be formed by means of the controller and diagrammaticallyexhibiting immediately below the illustration of said combinations thesurfaces of the three groups of movable segments or contacts employed.Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the controller-caseand features shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a top plan of thecontroller-ease, showing the operating handlever and the index arrangedupon said case in the path of the lever. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are topplans showing circuit-breaker J, employed for preventing sparking orarcing between the engaging surfaces of the movable and relativelystationary contacts of the 0011- troller, and mechanism preferablyemployed in the actuation of the circuit-breaker,the top of thecontroller-case, in the lower portion of which said circuit-breaker ispreferably located, and operating-lever being shown in dotted lines andthe different figures exhibiting different positions, respectively, ofthe operating-lever and connected parts. Fig. 10 is a side elevationshowing the circuitbreaker J and connected mechanism, contact K, andfeatures hereinafterdescribed. Fig. 11, on sheet containing Figs. 3 andat, is a top plan corresponding with Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, except inthe position of the movable parts. I

Referring to the drawings, A designates the case of the controller,centrally of which an upright shaft B is suitably supported. (See Figs.1, 3, and 4.) Said shaft extends upwardly through case A and is providedwith a hand-leverB at the upper end thereof above case A. Three sleevesO, D, and E, arranged end to end, are rigidly mounted upon shaft B, Odesignating the uppermost sleeve, D the middle sleeve, and E thelowermost sleeve. All of said sleeves are electrically insulated fromthe shaft (see Fig. 3) by suitable insulating substance or material F,interposed between the sleeves and shaft. The sleeves are alsoelectrically insulated from each other by suitable insulating substanceor material F", interposed between opposing ends of the sleeves. Sleeve0 at its upper end and sleeve Eat its lower end are electricallyinsulated from the supporting-shaft by suitable insulating substance ormaterial F Each sleeve is provided with any suitable number of segmentalcontacts located at suitable intervals endwise of the supporting-sleeveand arranged concentrically with the axis of the supporting-shaft, saidcontacts being rigid with and preferablyintegral with thesupporting-sleeve. Sleeve 0 is shown provided with six segmentalcontacts, (see Figs. 1 and 2,) marked H, H H 71 H, and h respectively,and all of said contacts except contacts 71 and h are arranged indifferent horizontal planes, respectively. Contact h is arranged in thesame horizontal plane with contact H and contact h" is arranged in thesame horizontal plane with contact H, as shown more clearly in thediagrammatic illustration in Fig. 2, wherein said contacts are shownlaid out flat. Sleeve D is shown provided with three segmental contacts(marked H HZand l-l ,respectively,) and said contacts are arranged indifferent horizontal planes, respectively. Sleeve E is shown providedwith two segmental contacts H and H, respectively, arranged in differenthorizontal planes, respectively. The lengths and arrangement of thedifferent segmental contacts are more clearly shown in the diagrammaticillustration in Fig. 2, upon reference to which it will be observed thatcontacts H, H and H have the same or approximately the same length andare arranged in the same vertical plane. Said contacts in the operationof the controller to turn on the electric power or to increase the powerapplied are moved in the direction of the arrows, and hence it will beobserved that contacts H H and H are located below the rear half ofcontact II, that contact H is located above the forward half of contactH, that contacts H" and 7t are arranged above the rear portions ofcontacts H and H, respectively, and that contacts H and h are arrangedabove and a little forward of contacts H and h, respectively.

A series of. relatively stationary contacts is provided at one side ofand a suitable distance from shaft 13, said contacts being pref erablyarranged in a vertical row. (See Figs.

1 and 3.) Nine of said relatively stationary contacts I, 1 l l l l 1 1and l are provided in the case illustrated and are 10- cated adjacent toand adapted to be electrically engaged by movable segmental contacts H,H H H, H H H H and H respectively, and contacts I and 1" are of coursealso adapted to be electrically engaged by segmental contacts 7L3 and h,respectively. Contacts 1, 1 I I, I, I, I 1*, and I" are supported,preferably, from a board I, of wood or other insulating substance ormaterial, suitably secured within the controller-case.

Now referring to the features diagrammat ically illustrated in Figs. 1and 3 it will be observed that stationary contact I is electricallyconnected by wire 21 with the trolley or contact device T of themotorear, that a resistance R has its opposite terminals electricallyconnected by wires R and R with contacts I and 1 respectively, that wireR and consequently contact I is electrically connected by means of wire2' with contact 1 that another resistance 1' has its opposite terminalselectrically connected by wires 'r and r with contacts 1 and 1*,respectively, that a motor M has its opposite terminals electricallyconnected by wires )l and M with contacts I and 1 respectively, thatwire M and consequently motor ill, is also electrically connected bywire M with contact 1 that another motor m has its opposite terminalselectrically connected by wires on and K with contacts I and K,respectively, that contact K is suitably supported in the lower portionof, but electrically insulated from the controller-case, and that saidwire K is electrically connected by wire K with contact I G designates awire leading to ground or return-conductor and electrically connectedwith a circuit-breaker J, that is provided in the lower portion of thecontroller-case and closes or breaks the circuit between the motors andground or return-conductor, according as said circuitln'eaker is causedto electrically engage or disengage contact K.

On top of the controller-case is an index consisting of six marks-such,for instance, as lugs, (designated Z, Z 1 Z, Z and 1', respec tively,)which lugs or marks are arranged at suitable intervals in the path ofthe opcrating-lever and are formed in any suitable manner upon the topof the controller-case.

The arrangement of the movable segmental contacts hereinbefore referredto is such and the arrangement of lugs or marks Z, Z Z Z", Z and Z issuch relative to the arrangement of said contacts that different motorcombinations are effected by bringing the operating-lever opposite thedifferent lugs or marks Z, Z Z Z", Z, and Z respectively. For instance,by actuating said lever into position opposite lug or mark Z the motorcombination diagrammatically illustrated and marked a in Fig. 2 iseffected. Line L in said Fig. 2 traverses the portions of segmentalcontacts H, H H and H that make electrical conmotion with stationarycontacts I, I 1 and 1 respectively, when the operating-lever is movedopposite lug or mark Z on the control- ICC IIO

ler-case, resulting when the circuit is closed by the circuit-breaker Jin the flow of the electric current from the trolley or contact deviceof the motor-car successively through stationary contact I, segmentalcontact H, segmental contact H contact 1 resistance R, contact 1resistance 0, contact 1, motor M, contact 1 contact 1, motor m, contactK, circuit breaker J to ground, the motors being connected in series, asdiagrammatically illustrated at a in Fig. 2, with both resistances R andr in circuit. Upon moving the operating-lever opposite lug or mark Zthose portions of segmental contacts H, H 11 ,11 and H that aretraversed by line L in the diagrammatic illustration in Fig. 2 shallhave been brought into electrical engagement with contacts I, I, I 1 and1, respectively, resulting in the path of the current from contact Isuccessively through segmental contacts H, H and H resistance 0",contact 1 motor M, contact 1 segmental contacts H and H motorm tocontact K, &c., and placing the motors in seriesrelation, as in Fig. 2,with resistance R out of circuit, as diagrammatically illustrated at b,Fig. 2. Upon bringing the operating-lever opposite lug or mark Z thoseportions of segmental contacts H, H H H and H that are shown traversedby line L in the diagrammaticillustration in Fig. 2 shall haveelectrically engaged contacts I, I 1, 1 and 1, respectively, and thecurrent will pass from contact I successively through contacts H, H andH contact 1 motor M, contacts I and 1 motor on to contact K, &c.,retaining both motors in series relation, but with both resistances cutout of circuit, as diagrammatically illustrated at c, Fig. 2. Vhen theoperating-lever shall have been moved opposite lug or mark Z", thoseportions of segmental contacts H, H H H H and H that are traversed byline L in Fig. 2 shall have electrically engaged contacts I, I I, I 1and 1*, respectively, and current willpass from contact I successivelythrough contacts H, H and 1 resistance R, contact 1 resistance r,contact 1, motor M, contact 1 H H and l to contact K, &c., and currentwill also pass from contact I successively through wire 2' contacts 1 HH and 1, motor in, contact K, &c., resulting in the connection of themotors in parallel, as diagrammatically illustrated at (Z in Fig. 2,withboth resistances in the circuit through motor M. hen the operating-leveris brought opposite log or mark Z those portions of segmental contacts11, H 72, H, H H and H that are traversed by line L Fig. 2, shallelectrically engage contacts I, I 1 I, 1"", I and 1 respectively, andcurrent will pass from contact I successively through contacts H, H 713,and 1 resistance 0', contact 1 motor M, contacts 1 H H and 1 contact K,&c., and current will also pass from contact H successively throughcontact 1-, wire 2'', contacts 1 H, H, and 1, motor m, contact K, &c.,retaining both motors connected in parallel as diagrammaticallyillustrated at c, Fig. 2, with resistance R cut out of the circuitthrough motorM. Upon moving the operating-lever opposite lug or mark Zthose portions of segmental contacts H, 11*, h, H H H and H that areshown traversed by line L in Fig. 2 shall have electrically engagedcontacts I, I 1 I, I 1 and 1 respectively, and current will pass fromcontact I successively through contacts H, H h, and I motor M, contacts1 H H and 1 contact K, &c., and current will also pass from contact Hsuccessively through contact 1 wire t contacts 1 H H, and 1 motor 171,contact K, &c.-that is, the two motors will be connected in parallel andboth resistances cut out of circuit, as illustrated diagrammaticallyatf, Fig 2.

The simplicity and convenience of the arrangement of the contacts andconnections employed for changing the motors from a series to a parallelrelation and for cutting one or both resistances out of circuit, arequite apparent.

If Wire K were permanently connected with the ground orreturn-conductor, it is obvious that sparking or arcing would take placebe tween the movable segmental contacts and relatively stationarycontacts whenever electrical connection was interrupted between adjacentmovable and stationary contacts, and consequently the engaging surfacesof said contacts would soon be burned or wasted away and require to berepaired or replaced by new contacts, entailing expense and greatinconvenience. I therefore provide the circuit-breaker J forinterrupting and closing the circuit between contact K and the groundconnection and provide means whereby said circuit-breaker is actuated tointerrupt the circuit before electrically disengaging the movablecontacts in circuit from the stationary contacts. To attain saidoperation of the circuit-breaker, to cause said circuit-breaker tocomplete the circuit before or approximately at the same time that thefirst motor combination is effected, and to compel the motorman oroperative to turn the operatinglever to the place of beginning upon thebackward or oif movement of said lever, I provide, preferably, thefollowing mechanism: Three disks N, P, and Q, are loosely mounted uponshaft B in the lower portion of the controllercase. Said disks are rigidor integral with each other. N designates the upper disk,.P the middledisk, and Q, the lower disk. Disk N has a peripheral recess ordepression N and bears the circuit-breaker J, hereinbefore referred to.Disk P has a peripheral depression or recess P, and disk Q has as manyperipheral recesses or depressions as and preferably one more than thereare lugs or indexmarks upon the top of the controller-case. Disk Q inthe case illustrated has therefore seven peripheral depressions orrecesses Q, Q, Q Q Q Q and Q respectively. Shaft B at any suitable pointbetween disk N and the insulation F at the lower end of sleeve theengaging disk.

E is provided with a laterally-extending arm B that is opcrativelyconnected with the shaft in any approved manner, and which arm at ornear its free or outer end is provided with a laterally-projectingfinger Z2 adapted to engage a shoulder S, formed upon a latch S, andactuate said latch from an operative to an inoperative position. Latch Sis fulcrumed at or near one end, as at 8*, to a stationarypost or lug A,provided within the controller-case, and has a recess S that in thenormal position of the latch and disks N, P, and Q. is engaged by alaterally'projecting arm N of disk N, and the latch consequently lockssaid disks in their normal position,wherein circuit-breaker J iselectrically disconnected from contact K and interrupts the circuitbetween said contact and ground connection. A spring S acts to retainlatch S in its normal or operative position, opposite ends of saidspring being shown attached to the latch and controller-case,respectively. A stationary pin or stop S that the latch in its normalposition engages, limits the action of the aforesaid spring. Shaft B isalso provided with two laterally-extending arms B and B, arm B beingoperatively connected with the shaft at any suitable point below disk Qand arm B being operatively connected with the shaft at any suitablepoint between disk N and adjacent insulation F Three pawls a, p, and qare pivotally supported from and between the outer ends of arms 13 andB, said pawls being preferably loosely mounted upon a bolt b thatextends through said arms and is secured against displacement by meansof a nut Z)". Pawl'n'is adapted to ride upon the periphery of disk U andengage the peripheral depression or recess in said disk. Pawl p isadapted to ride upon the periphery of disk P and engage the peripheralrecess or depression in said disk P. Pawl q is adapted to ride upon theperiphery of disk Q, and engage the peripheral depressions or recessesin said disk Q. Each pawl in order to reduce the friction between it andthe respective disk is at its free end provided with a roller thatengages the disk and also facilitates the operation of the pawl. Eachpawl is preferably provided with aspring 2, applied in any suitablemanner and acting in the direction to retain the pawl in engagement withThe operation of the mechanism just hereinbefore described is veryclearly shown in Figs. 5 to 11, inclusive, and I would here remark thatthe position of the moving parts exhibited in Fig. 10 corresponds to theposition of the movable parts shown in Fig. 5. The operating-lever inorder to close the circuit in the operation of the controller is movedto the right out of engagement with a lug A formed on the top of thecontroller-case, which lug is engaged by the lever in its normal or offposition and prevents the movement of the lever beyond its extremeposition in either direction. The arrangement of parts is such that withthe operating-lever in its off position the circuit shall be broken, asshown in Fig. 5, and arm N and consequently disks N, P, and Q andcircuit-breaker J, shall be locked by latch S against movement in thedirection to effect the closing of the circuit between contact K andground or return-conductor, and finger Z1 of arm B shall be in theposition required preparatory to actuating said latch into aninoperative position against the ac tion of spring S". The opposing sidewalls of the peripheral recesses or depressions in disks N, P, and Qdivergingly slope toward the concentric portion of the periphery of therespective disks. The slope of one of the side walls of the recess indisk Pviz., wall P-'-' that faces in a direction opposite to thedirection in which the operating-lever is moved in closing the circuitis quite sudden, whereas the other side wall of said recess is verygradual. The slope of one of the side walls of the recess in disk N-viz.wall N that faces in the direction in which the operating-lever is movedin closing the circuit is quite sudden, whereas the other side wall ofsaid re cess is very gradual. Similarly, one of the side walls of eachperipheral recess Q, Q Q, Q, Q, and Q, in disk Qviz., side wall Q thatfaces in the direction in which the operating-lever is turned in closingthe circuit should be quite sudden, all whereof will here inafter morefully appear. The arrangement of parts is such thatiu their normalposition, when the circuit is broken and the operatinglever is in itsextreme oil position or at the place of beginning and engages lug A onthe controller-case, arm N of disk N shall engage the recess in latch S;finger U of arm B shall be in position engaging and ready to release armN and consequently disks N P Q and the circuit-breaker; the free orroller-bearin g end of pawlp shall be upon the gradually-sloping wall ofthe peripheral recess in disk 1, a suitable distance from thesuddenly-sloped wall P of said recess; the free or roller-bearing end ofpawl 12 shall be at, or approximately at, the outer end of thesuddenlyslopcd wall N of the peripheral recess in disk N, and the freeor roller-bearing end of pawl q shall be in engagement with recess Q indisk Q and so that when the operating-lever is turned in the directionrequired to close the circuit, but before it shall have come 0ppositelug or mark Z on the controller-case, finger-Z) of arm B of thecontroller-shaft shall have engaged and actuated latch S out ofengagement with arm N of disk N, and the roller-bearing end of pawl. pshall have engaged wall P of the peripheral recess in disk P, as shownin Fig. 6, so thata further movement of the lever in the same direction,(see Fig. 7,) and consequently the further accompanying of said pawl,shall effect the actuation of disk P, and consequently disks N and Q, inthe direction required to bring circuitbreaker J into electricalengagement with contact K, and thereby close the circuit. The

arrangement of parts is, furthermore, such that before theoperating-lever shall have come opposite lug or mark Z on the controllercase, circuit-breaker J shall have electrically engaged contactK, the free or roller-bearing end of pawl it shall have dropped into theperipheral recess of disks N immediately adjacent or contiguous to wallN of said recess, as shown in Fig. 7, and the free or roller bearing endof pawl (1 shall be on its way from recess Q in disk Q to recess Q insaid disk. The arrangement of parts is, furthermore, such that whencircuit-breaker J shall have electrically engaged contact K, and therebyclosed the circuit, it shall come into engage ment with a stop whosefunction is to limit the movement of the circuit-breaker,andconsequently disks N, P, and Q, in the direction in which theoperating-lever is moved in closing the circuit, which stop in the caseillustrated is formed by the lug or post A that supports contact K, andfrom which lug or post contact K is electrically insulated by anysuitable insulating substance or material K By the constructionhereinbefore described it will be observed that pawls It and q move idlyupon the peripheries of the engaging disks during the actuation of theoperatinglever in the direction in which said lever is moved in bringingcircuit-breaker J into electrical engagement with contact K and thatpawl 19 moves idly upon the peripheral surface of disk P when themovement of said disks in the direction indicated has been arrested bystop A The arrangement of parts is, furthermore, such that pawl (1 shallhave 00- cupied recess Q in disk Q when the operating lever has beenmoved opposite lug or mark Z on the controller-case, and that said pawlshall move from one recess to the next or one of the next adjacentrecesses in said disk, according as the operating-lever is moved fromone lug or mark to the corresponding adjacent lug or mark on thecontroller-case-that is,said pawl shall have occupied recess Q or recessQ or recess Q or recess Q or recess Q or recess Q according as theoperating-lever has been brought opposite lug or mark l or mark I ormark Z 01 mark Z or mark Z or mark Z" on the controller-caseand saidpawl shall be in position to engage the suddenly-sloped wall Q of anyone of said recesses when the operatin g-lever has been brought oppositethe lug or mark that is identified with said recess, so that when themotorman or operative turns the operating-lever backwardly, as requiredto change the connection of the motors in parallel to a seriesconnection, or as required in changing from a circuit withoutresistances to one including resistance, or from a circuit containingone of the resistances to a circuit including both resistances, whichmovement of the lever would be accompanied by the electricaldisconnection. of one or more of the movable segmental. contacts uponshaft B from the relatively stationary contacts, the aforesaid disk Q,and consequently disks N and P, shall, by means of pawl g, be turnedbackward] y in the direction required to electricall y disconnectcircuit-breaker J from contact K, as shown in Fig. 11, (on sheetcontaining Figs. 3 and 4,) and thereby interrupt the circuit before anyelectrical disengagement between the aforesaid segmental contacts andrelatively stationary contacts takes place, whereby sparking or arcingbetween the engaging contacts when electrical connection between themisinterrupted is successfully avoided and instead but a-single are orspark is produced between the aforesaid circuitbreaker and contact Kupon the aforesaid interruption of their electrical connection with eachother. The expense and work incurred of renewing or repairing contact Kand circuit-breaker J is very inconsiderable as compared with theexpense and annoyance that would be occasioned if sparking or arein gwere allowed between the segmental con tacts upon shaft B and adjacentstationary contacts. The location of contact K and circuit-breaker J inthe lower portion of the controller-case affords convenient access tosaid parts, and said contact and said circuitbreaker are removablysecured, preferably by means of screws, to the supporting member Kdesignating the screws that secure contact K to its support A and Jrepresenting the screws that secure circuit-breaker J to thesupporting-diskN. Thearrangementof parts is, furthermore, such that uponthe aforesaid actuation of circuit-breakerJ out of electrical engagementwith contact K arm N of disk N shall come into engagement with anincline '5 formed upon the free or outer end of latch bring said leverinto its extreme off position or toward said position, move idly uponthe periphery of the engaging disk Q. It will, however, be observed thatthe motorman or operative, if he has not already moved theoperating-lever into or approximately into its off position uponeffecting electrical disconnection between circuit-breaker J and contactK, will, as soon as the circuit-breaker and connected disks N, P, and Qhave been brought into their normal position and locked in such positionby latch S, be compelled to return the operating-lever into or approxi-'lnately into said position before he can again establish electricalconnection between circuitsbreaker J and contact K, as required to closethe circuit, and hence it will be observed that by my improvedconstruction I success fully avoid the liability of discommoding orarousing the profanity of a passenger or dis arranging or injuring someportion of the electrical equipment of the car, which liability wouldattend the ear jerking or shocks resulting from too suddenly startingthe car, and which shocks or jerking of the car would occur if theoperative were not compelled to and did not return the operating-leverto or approximately to the starting position before again applying themotive power. It will be apparent, however, that pawl q,when theoperative has actuated the operating-lever from its extreme off positiontoward the first lug or mark Z on the controller-case, as shown in Fig.7, and has elfected electrical connection between circuit-breaker J andcontact K or has moved the operating-lever sufficiently far to releasethe circuit-breaker-bearing disk, as shown in Fig. (5, and desires orfinds it necessary for some reason or other to return said parts intotheir normal position before he has established connection of the motorsin series, will be in a position between recesses Q and Q in theperiphery of disk Q. and in a position that would render said pawlqincapable of returning disk Q and connected parts upon the backwardmovement of the operating-lever into their normal position. During thetime referred to, therefore, pawl n is called into requisition and thearrangement of parts is such that as soon as the operating-lever ismoved from its extreme off position toward the first lug or mark Z onthe controller-case said pawl 91 will drop into recess N in theperiphery of disk N in position to engage side wall N of said recess,and consequently in position to actuate disk N and connected parts intotheir normal position upon turning the operating-lever backwardly at thetime indicated.

Vhat I claim is 1. The combination with the trolley or contact device T,motors M m, resistances R1 and ground or return conductor, of acontrollercomprisingan upright shaft B, a group of contacts H, H H h H,71 electrically connected with each other and operatively connected withthe shaft, and contacts H and H electrically connected with each otherand operatively connected with the shaft, said contacts beingelectrically insulated from the shaft, contacts H H being electricallyinsulated from the aforesaid groups of contacts, and said groups ofcontacts being electrically insulated from each other, relativelystationary contacts I, 1 I 1", 1 I, I 1 and I arranged in an upright rowand in suitable proximity to the aforesaid movable contacts, and wiresor connections 1" 2' R R 0*, 0", M M M m, K and K all arranged andoperating substantially as indicated, and means for electricallyconnecting wire or connection K with ground or return conductor, and aswitch for breaking the circuit in advance of the interruption ofelectrical connection between said stationary and movable contacts,

said switch arranged to be actuated by said shaft and adapted tomaintain the circuit broken until the parts are in their off position,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with the trolley or contact device T, motors M m, tworesistances R, r, and ground or return conductor, of a com trollercomprising an upright case A, closed at thetop, an upright shaft Barranged within said case and extending upwardly through the top of thecase, lever B operatively connected with the upper end of said shaftabove the controller-case, lug or stop A formed upon the aforesaid case,and lugs or marks Z, Z Z, Z", Z, Z upon said top at suitable intervalsabout the axis of the shaft, a group of contacts 11, H H 7r, H, 7r,electrically connected with each other and operatively connected withthe shaft, a group of contacts H, H and H electrically connected witheach other and operatively connected with the shaft, and contacts H andH electrically connected with each other and operatively connected withthe shaft, said contacts being electrically insulated from the shaft,contacts 11, I1 ,being electrically i nsulated from the aforesaid groupsof contacts,and said groups of contacts being electrically insulatedfrom each other, relatively stationary contacts I, 1 I, I, I, I 1 I and1" arranged in an upright row and in suitable proximity to the aforesaidmovable contacts, and wires or connections 1', i R R 7 r, M, M M m, Kand K all arranged and operating substantially as indicated, and meansfor electrically connecting wire or connection K with the ground orreturn conductor, and a switch for breaking the circuit in advance ofthe interruption of electrical connection between said stationary andmovable contacts, said switch arranged to be actuated by said shaft andadapted to maintain the circuit broken until the parts are in their offposition, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the trolley or con tact device '1, two motors Mm, resistances R, r, and ground connection, of a controller comprising acase A, closed at the top, a suit ably-actuated upright shaft B, saidshaftextending upwardly through the top of the controller-case, six lugsor marks Z Z Z, Z, Z, Z, formed upon said top at suitable intervalsabout the axis of the shaft, lever B operatively connected with saidshaft above the aforesaid top, three sleeves O, D and E operativelymounted upon said shaft, said sleeves being electrically insulated fromthe shaft and electrically insulated from one another, segmentalcontacts 11, 11 ,11 7L3, II", It", rigid and electrically "connectedwith sleeve 0, segmental contacts H", H and H rigid and elec tricallyconnected with sleeve 1), segmental contacts H and lit rigid andelectrically connected with sleeve E, the upright series of relativelystationary contacts 1, I 1 I", 1 1, 1 I 1 adapted to be engaged by theaforesaid segmental contacts, and such connections between the aforesaidtrolley or contact device, resistances, motors, ground connection andstationary contacts, and the arrangement of the lugs or marks on the topof the controller-case and contacts being such, that the motors areconnected in series with both, or one only, or not any of theresistances in circuit, or are connected in parallel with both, or onlyone, or not any of the re sistances in circuit, according as theoperating-lever is broughtopposite to lug or mark Z or P, or Z or Z, orZ or Z, respectively, and a switch for breaking the circuit in advanceof the interruption of electrical connection between said stationary andmovable contacts, said switch arranged to be actuated by said shaft andadapted to maintain the circuit broken until the parts are in their offposition, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with a controller for an electric car or vehicle,which controller comprises a suitably-actuated shaft, a series ofsuitably-arranged contacts operatively connected with said shaft and aseries of relatively stationary contacts adapted to be electricallyengaged by the contacts on the shaft, of a contact K located in the lineof the circuit, circuit-breaker located in the line of the circuit andadapted to electrically engage the aforesaid contact K, thecircuit-breaker normally being out of engagement with said contact,means operatively connected with the shaft for actuating thecircuit-breaker into electrical engagement with contact K, meansoperatively connected with the shaft for electrically disengaging thecircuit-breaker from said contact preparatory to the interruption of theelectrical engagement between contacts of the aforesaid two series ofcontacts, means for locking the circuit-breaker in its normal position,means operatively connected with the shaft for actuating said lockingmeans to unlock or release the circuit-breaker, and means acting toretain the locking means in its operative position, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with a controller of an electric car or vehicle,which controller comprises a suitably-actuated shaft, a series ofsuitably-arranged contacts operatively connected with said shaft, aseries of relatively stationary contacts adapted to be electricallyengaged by the contacts on the shaft, of a contact K located in the lineof the circuit, disk or member N loosely mounted upon the aforesaidshaft adjacent to the aforesaid contact K, and having alaterally-projecting arm N circuit-breaker rigid with saidlooselymounted disk or member and located in the line of the circuit,said circuit-breaker adapted to electrically engage the aforesaidcontact K and thereby close the circuit, a latch adapted to operativelyengage the aforesaid arm or projecting member of thecircuitbreaker-supporting member, a spring acting to retain said latchin its normal or operative position, means operatively connected withthe shaft for actuating the circuit-breakersupporting member in thedirection required to move the circuit-breaker into electricalengagement with contact K, and means operatively connected with theshaft for actuating said supporting member in the direction required tointerrupt electrical connection between said contact andcircuit-breaker, all arranged and operating substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. The combination with a controller for an electric car or vehicle,which controller comprises a case A, a suitably-actuated upright shaftwithin said case, a series of suitablyarranged contacts operativelyconnected with said shaft and a series of relatively station arycontacts adapted to be electrically engaged by the contacts on theshaft, of a contact K located in the lower part of the aforesaid case inthe line of the circuit, a disk or member N loosely mounted upon theshaft adjacent to said contact, said loosely-mounted disk or memberbeing provided with alaterally-projecting arm N circuit-breaker J rigidwith said loosely-mounted disk ormemher and located in the line of thecircuit, said circuit-breaker being adapted to electrically engagecontact K, and thereby close the circuit, a latch 8 adapted to engagethe aforesaid arm of the circuit-breaker-supporting member and lock thecircuit-breaker in its normal position, a spring acting to retain saidlatch in its operative position, means operatively connected with theshaft for actuating said latch into an inoperative position, meansoperatively connected with the shaft for actuating thecircuit-breaker-supporting member in the direction required to establishelectrical engagement between the circuit-breaker and contact K, andmeans operatively connected with the shaft for actuating thecircuit-breakersupporting memher in the direction required to interruptelectrical connection between said circuitbreaker and contact, allarranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination with a controller of an electric car or vehicle,which controller comprises a suitably-actuated shaft, a series ofsuitably-arranged contacts operatively connected with said shaft, aseries of relatively stationary contacts adapted to be electricallyengaged by the contacts on the shaft, of a contact K located in the lineof the circuit, disks or members N, P and Q, loosely mounted upon theshaft, member N provided with recess N and laterally-projecting arm Ncircuit-breaker J rigid with said member N and located in the line ofthe circuit, said circuit-breaker being adapted to electrically engagethe aforesaid contact K, member P hav ing a peripheral recess P, andmember Q being provided with peripheral recesses Q, Q Q Q Q and Q pawlsn, p and q, operatively connected with the shaft; springs 25; latch S;spring S and arm B operatively in the circuit and the second positionbeing maintained duringa reverse movement at theresistauce-varyingcontacts,as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification, in presence of twowitnesses, this 30th day of January, 189?.

SIDNEY ll. SHORT.

Witnesses:

FRANK BILLINUS, Z. V. HUBBELL.

